Camped overnight at
Dartmoor Recreation Reserve
on Tuesday
THANK YOU FOR BEING PATIENT WHILE THE PICTURES LOAD
Day 42
Tuesday
29th December 2009
Click on the pictures for larger versions
The times normally shown areQueenslandtimes. I left my camera
settings as they were.
Being Daylight Saving Time,
SA was 30 mins ahead. Victoria was 60 mins
ahead.
To show the times we had to contend with on this day, I showed all
times.
When I was planning this trip, I always had in my mind that the
"turning home" point would be Mt Gambier.
I wanted to see the Blue Lake.
The morning was clear and blue and it was only 60km or so to Mt
Gambier from Dartmoor, so we
headed for South Australia.
It was a pleasant drive and very little traffic, so I was able to
take in the surroundings. The caravan was left behind at the
campsite as well, which meant driving was a lot easier.
As we neared the SA / VIC border, I noticed a sign saying "Princess
Margaret Rose Caves". I said to Jude
that if we had time, maybe we'd have a look on the way back.
We drove into Mt Gambier and
the feel was similar to being in Queensland,
very friendly.
As we hadn't had breakfast, we looked around and Hungry Jacks
turned up. Surprise!! :)
9.56am - QLD
10.26am - SA
10.56am - VIC
9.57am - QLD
10.27am - SA
10.57am - VIC
9.57am - QLD
10.27am - SA
10.57am - VIC
Commercial Street East, Mt Gambier, South Australia
After a really relaxing and enjoyable breakfast, we drove around the
streets of Mt Gambier.
We came across the sign below.
11.48am - QLD
12.18pm - SA
12.48am - VIC
I drove around the block to the entrance to see what it was about.
After reading the story we decided to pay the money and have a look.
Information from the above site - 28th December 2013 :
History
Engelbrecht Cave was formed in Gambier Limestone by the process
of chemical dissolution. The Limestone itself was formed some
35-45 million years ago. At Engelbrecht Cave, the thickness of
the Limestone is some 100 metres.
The topsoil surrounding the cave is volcanic in origin. Dates of
the last eruption vary from 2,800 – 26,000 years ago. Ground
level is 41 metres above sea level and the water level at the
viewing platform and throughout the cave system is 12 metres
above sea level.
In 1864 this Cave on North Terrace (now Jubilee Hwy
West) was explored by four young men in a canoe and
their story written in 1933 makes interesting reading of
a hazardous adventure. Dr Edward Wehl, the pioneer,
built a canoe of hardwood sealed with pitch, and the
intrepid four, John Stratford, Charlie Brad, Albert
Grosser and 10-year-old Charlie Grosser set off to
explore the underground waters of the Cave. The canoe
was quickly caught in a fast running current and carried
along about 200 yards in the direction of the Blue Lake,
the stream taking several turn. The current was strong
and the young canoeists had difficulty in retracing
their course over the fast running waterway.
Some years ago this Cave was closed to the public. it
could be re-opened and made into a tourist attraction –
it has the potential.
Taken from “Mount Gambier – The City Around A Cave” by
Les R. Hill, 1972
Mr Carl Engelbrecht, a German emigrant, arrived in Australia in
1857. In 1885 he purchased Dr Wehl’s old Flour Mill and
converted it into a Whiskey Distillery. Mr Engelbrecht used the
cave for dumping of waste products – ‘slimpers’ and bottles.
There is still much evidence of broken bottles.
In 1964, the City Council invited investigations for tourist
potential of the cave. One local diver and three divers from
Adelaide, including the well-known Dave Burchell made an
exploratory dive. After digging their way through 100 years of
rubbish and entering a dark muddy tunnel, a relatively small
lake was discovered with a very silty floor, which was only 17
feet deep. Their report to the council was not suitable for
tourist development.
In 1979, there was renewed interest and the Lions Club of Mount
Gambier decide to make it their project of beautifying the cave.
The cleaning and landscaping took three years and $10,000. The
finished project was then handed back to the council.
In 2012, the tour operators, with help from the City Council,
decided to remove the overgrown weeds and ivy, with the aim
of re-vegetating the area with plants indigenous to the area.
11.48am - QLD
12.18pm - SA
12.48pm - VIC
12.02pm - QLD
12.32pm - SA
1.02pm - VIC
12.13pm - QLD
12.43pm - SA
1.13pm - VIC
12.14pm - QLD
12.44pm - SA
1.14pm - VIC
12.17pm - QLD
12.47pm - SA
1.17pm - VIC
12.21pm - QLD
12.51pm - SA
1.21pm - VIC
12.22pm - QLD
12.52pm - SA
1.22pm - VIC
12.25pm - QLD
12.55pm - SA
1.25pm - VIC
Sorry to say, I wasn't overly impressed with the cave.
We explored more of Mt Gambier streets and eventually came across a sign
to the Blue Lake
Situated in one of three extinct volcanic craters, the Blue Lake
exposes the crystal clear water that has filtered underground
through the limestone, passing slowly beneath the city.
Each year in November the lake starts its colour change from winter
steel blue to brilliant turquoise blue and then in March changes
back to steel blue.
With average depths of 70 metres, the lake contains 36,000 million
litres (ML). It is the source of water to the city 3,500 ML is
pumped annually from the lake into holding tanks which gravity feed
water to the city and surrounds. No swimming or diving is permitted.
The Blue Lake and the Crater Lakes area is a significant site within
the Kanawinka Geopark and is a State Heritage Area.
1.12pm - QLD
1.42pm - SA
2.12pm - VIC
1.14pm - QLD
1.44pm - SA
2.14pm - VIC
1.13pm - QLD
1.43pm - SA
2.13pm - VIC
1.15pm - QLD
1.45pm - SA
2.15pm - VIC
1.13pm - QLD
1.43pm - SA
2.13pm - VIC
1.17pm - QLD
1.47pm - SA
2.17pm - VIC
Looking at maps, I could see there was a way we could go to the caves I
had seen the sign indicating, without going over the path we took to
Mt Gambier.
I realized the last tour was at 4.30pm Victoria time and found
the drive was 34mins drive from Mt Gambier. Maybe so, but not in
the Daihatsu Delta.
We arrived just in time.
Poor Jude was puffing from the walk up to the entrance from the car
park, but we made it just as they were about to head off on the last
tour.
The trip to see them was well worthwhile.
I was really impressed.
I had only seen Hastings Caves in Tasmania in 1974 and
wasn't impressed with them, especially after the long, winding road to
them.
Maybe they are better now.
Maybe the Jenolan Caves were to be better, but we were to see
them on the way home.
The
Cave
Mr K. McEachern and Mr J. Hutchesson and his sons Alan & Bernie, first
explored the cave in 1936.The original entrance was a 17m vertical
shaft, as visitor access was restricted a stairwell had to be dug
through the limestone, this stairwell took Keith and Bunny 5 years to
dig. They developed the cave as a tourist attraction with “Bunny"
Hutchesson acting as the first permanent guide, conducting tours from
4th January 1941. Since 1980, the cave has been part of the Lower
Glenelg National Park.
Formations Most
limestone caves are formed by water seeping down through cracks and
fault lines in the limestone, dissolving the rock and creating fissures
and tunnels. The formation ofPrincess
Margaret Rose Cave, however, was assisted by water from theGlenelg
Riverwhich worked
its way along a fault line for approx 500m. This occurred above its
present height. The water scalloped the walls of the cave and wore a
reasonably level floor.
Rainwater, as it seeps from the surface, acts as a weak acid to dissolve
the limestone, producing a solution of calcium bicarbonate. When this
reaches the air of the cave, carbon dioxide is released and calcium
carbonate is deposited in the form of calcite crystals.
These crystals make up the diverse and spectacular formations of the
cave.
The different colours are caused by tannins and minerals washed down by
rainwater from overlying soil.
As the solution drips from the cave roof, deposited carbonate is
left adhering and astalactiteis
formed.Strawsortubular
stalactitesare
long, thin hollowstalactiteswith
a solution flowing down inside the centre.
Solution dripping from a stalactite builds astalagmitefrom
the cave floor. If astalactiteandstalagmitejoin
they form acolumnand
if that thickens it becomes apillar.Flow
stoneformationsare
caused by water flowing over the walls leaving a smooth surface.
Other formations at the roof line areshawls,blanketsandbacons.
The shapes and colours of these narrow formations are accurately
described by their names.
Perhaps the most unusual formations in the cave are thehelictites.
Defying gravity, these long, thin formations grow in all
different directions. No one is certain how they form, but the
commonly accepted theory is that they begin on crystals and are
shaped by surface tensions and capillary action.
Other
mysterious formations in the Princess Margaret Rose Cave is the rarely
seencave coral,rimstone
poolsandsawtoothed
shawls.
3.52pm - QLD
4.22pm - SA
4.52pm - VIC
3.53pm - QLD
4.23pm - SA
4.53pm - VIC
3.55pm - QLD
4.25pm - SA
4.55pm - VIC
3.55pm - QLD
4.25pm - SA
4.55pm - VIC
3.56pm - QLD
4.26pm - SA
4.56pm - VIC
4.00pm -QLD
4.30pm - SA
5.00pm - VIC
3.59pm - QLD
4.29pm - SA
4.59pm - VIC
4.01pm - QLD
4.31pm - SA
5.01pm - VIC
4.02pm - QLD
4.32pm - SA
5.02pm - VIC
4.02pm - QLD
4.32pm - SA
5.02pm - VIC
4.08pm - QLD
4.38pm - SA
5.08pm - VIC
4.11pm - QLD
4.41pm - SA
5.11pm - VIC
4.14pm - QLD
4.44pm - SA
5.14pm - VIC
4.12pm - QLD
4.42pm - SA
5.12pm - VIC
4.17pm - QLD
4.47pm - SA
5.17pm - VIC
4.19pm - QLD
4.49pm - SA
5.19pm - VIC
4.20pm - QLD
4.50pm - SA
5.20pm - VIC
4.22pm - QLD
4.52pm - SA
5.22pm - VIC
4.23pm - QLD
4.53pm - SA
5.23pm - VIC
4.27pm - QLD
4.57pm - SA
5.27pm - VIC
4.27pm - QLD
4.57pm - SA
5.27pm - VIC
4.33pm - QLD
5.03pm - SA
5.33pm - VIC
The trip home to Dartmoor was a very tortuous one, through
reafforestation areas on dirt roads, but we made it with no problems.
As we drove into Dartmoor we noticed the hotel had a restaurant.
I called in and asked the owner if the restaurant was going to be open.
It was, so we went back to the caravan, had a shower in our great shower
tent, dressed up and had a great meal in AIR CONDITIONING as the
weather had turned very hot and still.
After our meal, we went back to the caravan to the dogs and sat in the
heat.
Judy had to use the toilet facilities in the dark. Some grub had left
shit all over the seat.
There was no light as you'd expect in a free camping site, so I had to
hold a torch for her.
Not impressed with some people's grubby habits!